Staffing changes at WTOL

WTOL news director Andi Roman is leaving the station to spend more time with her family.

Big changes are coming to WTOL-TV, Channel 11, as the station is losing its news director, morning anchor, and a meteorologist.

WTOL news director Andi Roman said she is leaving the Toledo CBS affiliate to spend time with her family, including two teenage sons.

"My son is already in high school and my other son enters junior high. It's time that I be able to spend more time with them," she said.

Roman has spent nearly 25 years working in radio and TV news, more than a decade of it at WTOL. She took over as the station's news director in 2009. Her last day is June 6.

Bob Chirdon, WTOL's general manager, said the station began a search for news director candidates Thursday. He said the station will make the hire "as soon as the right person surfaces and we can put a deal together."

Lauren Lowrey, a morning anchor and reporter with WTOL, is moving to Indianapolis to work for WISH-TV, a CBS affiliate. Lowrey has been at WTOL for nearly three years. Her departure Friday is causing a personnel change in the 4:30 through 7 a.m. newscasts beginning Monday.

Melissa Voetsch will co-anchor the 4:30 to 7 a.m. newscast with Jonathan Walsh who is also taking over the noon newscast from Voetsch.

Melissa Voetsch, who co-anchored the 9 to 10 a.m. weekday Your Day program as well as the noon newscast, will replace Lowrey. She will continue to co-anchor Your Day, but will be replaced by Jonathan Walsh, weekend night anchor, on the noon newscasts. Walsh also will replace Brad Harvey on the 4:30 through 7 a.m. newscasts. Harvey, whose contract with WTOL expires in September, will leave the station. Until then, he'll replace Walsh as weekend anchor, and work as an evening reporter.

Chirdon said Lowrey wanted to move to a top 30 market, while Harvey and his family wanted to move to a warmer climate.

Mike Stone, the station's weekend morning and part-time weekday morning meteorologist, also is leaving. Stone, whose last day is Sunday, joined WTOL more than five years ago after working in the Pittsburgh and Cleveland markets. The New Jersey native said he is exploring opportunities at other stations on the East Coast to be closer to his family. "I've really enjoyed the people I've worked with. I was very happy to spend time in Toledo and I really enjoyed my time here," Stone said. "I just came into this situation where I was able to get closer to home."

One source said Stone is leaving because of a mandatory pay cut. "The reason he started exploring options is he was offered a new contract in March for almost half of his salary," the source said.

Stone declined to discuss his contract negotiations and Mr. Chirdon declined to comment.

Kimberly Newman, a meteorologist and reporter from an affiliate in Macon, Ga., will replace Stone starting Tuesday.

Contact Kirk Baird at kbaird@theblade.com or 419-724-6734.